Alan J. Lenczner is a dean of the commercial litigation bar who has built a stellar reputation in the world of corporate-commercial clashes, and for the past four decades he has acted on some of the biggest matters hitting the docket. What makes him tick, where does he see litigation going, and why is he so well loved by both plaintiff and defence lawyers?

The minute you step onto Alan J. Lenczner's 140-acre farm northwest of Toronto, the entire world seems to slow down a little. You become instantly relaxed, the air is a little bit fresher, and any worries you might have had are at least put on hold for a spell.

Clyde, Lenczner's 10-year-old dog, may turn his puppy-dog eyes on you in the hope that you'll get a game of fetch going down by the lake. Once you start, however, it's almost impossible to stop, although Lenczner notes that his faithful companion doesn't have the endurance he did when younger.

Lenczner's farm is situated in Caledon - a picturesque, small provincial town surrounded by several quaint

country villages.

Ontario's recently appointed Chief Justice Warren Winkler has land nearby, and Lenczner's farm is often the site of Toronto litigation firm Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP's picnics and social gatherings.

The renovated farmhouse features a huge wraparound deck and the surrounding lake, gardens, and trees dotting the grounds - many of which Lenczner transplanted - make for a picture-perfect summer night with friends and family.

Lenczner Slaght, one of Canada's premier litigation and advocacy practices, was created about 15 years ago with partner Ron Slaght. Turning a small two-person firm into a 32-lawyer commercial litigation powerhouse is no small feat.

At 64, Lenczner is whip smart, spry, humourous, passionate about everything he does, and, it turns out, quite the sous-gardener.

Under the watchful eye and direction of his wife, Joan, they have turned a plot of land purchased 35 years ago into an absolutely stunning, warm, and welcoming homestead.

On the weekends, Lenczner will often rise at the crack of dawn, spending hours mowing his sprawling lawn. That's when he ponders the cases he's working on and, in an almost Zen-like state, comes up with legal questions and answers he's looking for.

Some days you will find him simply sitting at his desk in the sun-drenched den, an addition to the farmhouse. His desk is cluttered with binders of materials for three upcoming appeals at the end of August. Lenczner says he spends about four hours reading, with regular breaks to look out the window.

"It's nice though, because in the summer it doesn't get dark until after 9 p.m., so there's lots of time," he says.

This truly is a glimpse at the all-elusive concept of "work-life balance," except that's a term Lenczner doesn't agree with.

"There's no such thing," he says. "But you know what? There doesn't have to be such a thing. If you like what you're doing, you'll make time for everything and you'll know when to cut it off."

Lenczner's farmhouse office is curiously missing one key item, however. And if you visit his office in Toronto's Oxford Tower on Adelaide Street, your suspicions will be confirmed. Lenczner doesn't own or use a computer.

'I hate BlackBerrys'

"Don't e-mail me. I don't have an e-mail. I don't have a computer. I don't have a cellphone. I don't have a BlackBerry," he says. "I don't have any of those things and I'm more service oriented than all of these guys. I hate BlackBerrys.